It would have been easy for a younger, inexperienced team to simply roll over after blowing a three-goal lead in Game 3, but the Nashville Predators are anything but.

Sure, they were sour about losing 7-4 on Tuesday to fall behind in this series with the Winnipeg Jets, but instead of wasting time wondering what might have been, the Predators buckled down defensively and slipped out of town with a 2-1 victory at Bell MTS Place.

It was the first loss on home ice for the Jets in 14 games, dating back to Feb. 27 when the Predators used a third-period rally to beat them.

By tying the series 2-2, the Predators have regained home-ice advantage.

Winnipeg Jets forward Brandon Tanev chases down a loose puck against the Nashville Predators during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice speaks to his troops during a third-period timeout against the Nashville Predators during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine goes after a loose puck in the Nashville Predators end during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne rims the puck around the glass during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Bryan Little looks dazed late in Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series against the Nashville Predators in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien focuses late during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series against the Nashville Predators in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler lines up against the Nashville Predators during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets centre Adam Lowry (centre) and Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban (right) get after a puck during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban takes a knee late during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (left) is rubbed out by Nashville Predators defenceman Mattias Ekholm during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

A bloody-nosed Winnipeg Jets forward Bryan Little throws a backhand at the Nashville Predators net as he's angled off by defenceman Roman Josi during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler (centre) sets up in the Nashville Predators end with the Jets net empty during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets Nikolaj Ehlers (right) jumps to avoid a shot in front of Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine (right) celebrates his goal late in the third period against the Nashville Predators during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg with Nikolaj Ehlers (left) and Paul Stastny on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine celebrates his goal late in the third period against the Nashville Predators during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler runs into the knee of Nashville Predators defenceman Matt Irwin during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets centre Mark Scheifele (right) and Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg get into it during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban throws up his arms to assert his innocence during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien (right) battles for the puck with Nashville Predators forward Scott Hartnell during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson (right) jumps to avoid a shot in front of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban celebrates his second-period, power-play goal against the Winnipeg Jets during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg with Filip Forsberg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban celebrates his second-period, power-play goal against the Winnipeg Jets during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban celebrates his second-period, power-play goal against the Winnipeg Jets during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban celebrates his second-period, power-play goal against the Winnipeg Jets during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine is told to get to the penalty box after a scrum with the Nashville Predators during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Bryan Little has his shot stopped by Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets forward Bryan Little has his shot stopped by Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey (left) has his shot blocked by the knob of Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne's stick during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne tracks a Winnipeg Jets shot during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck reaches out to grab a Nashville Predators shot during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne throws his blocker at a shot from Winnipeg Jets centre Paul Stastny during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

The Nashville Predators celebrate a goal from Ryan Hartman during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

The Nashville Predators celebrate a goal from Ryan Hartman during Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

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Jets vs Predators May 3, 2018

“You want to up the desperation level a little bit as we go forward. But systematically, we’ve been a real tough team to play against all year,” said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. “We don’t change anything. I think our group has responded all year long and not for a second did we think coming into this series we were going to breeze through it. We expected it to be a battle and throughout this whole thing there’s going to be learning experiences and ups and downs. It’s how you respond to it. We’ve responded incredibly well all year. It has not been an easy year — a lot of adversity all year — and we’ve answered the bell every single time so I’m excited about Game 5.”

It was natural to expect the Jets might get a boost from rallying from behind, but they spoke at length this week about momentum not carrying over from game to game.

The only difference this time was that the Jets had a glorious opportunity to take a 3-1 stranglehold, but were unable to do so.

“Your goal on the road is to definitely steal one,” said Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who had 27 saves. “We did our job, they did their job. There’s a reason we’re one and two in the West. It’s two good teams going at it. You got to expect this is going to be a battle right to the end.”

Predators goalie Pekka Rinne had an up-and-down start to the series, but his solid play is one of the biggest reasons this series is back on even footing.

Rinne didn’t allow any soft goals and he came up with a highlight-reel save in the first period on Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey.

After a good scoring chance for Bryan Little, Morrissey tried to jam home the rebound on his backhand, only to have Rinne make the save in rather interesting fashion.

As the stick of Rinne was falling out of his hands, the butt end magically appeared on the ice and prevented the shot from crossing the goal line.

Making his 80th start in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Rinne came up with his best game of the series.

At a time when some fans were petitioning for Predators head coach Peter Laviolette to replace the likely Vezina Trophy winner with backup Juuse Saros.

As it turns out, a goalie change wasn’t required.

Rinne finished with 32 saves and was 50.2 seconds away from recording a shutout.

With the net empty in favour of an extra attacker and the Jets on the power play, Jets forward Patrik Laine snapped a six-game drought with his third goal of the playoffs.

“Now the series is tied. It’s a best-of-three series and we’ve got to be able to win on the road again and try to play better defence and not give the Predators so many odd-man rushes,” said Laine. “It’s always nice to score. That was just a little too late. At least that goal gave us a chance to tie the game. But we just couldn’t capitalize. Hopefully, it gives me more confidence for next game and hopefully I can maybe score a couple of more.”

The Predators opened the scoring for the third consecutive game, this time with 2:40 to go in the first period on a fourth-line strike from Ryan Hartman.

Derek Morley spreads the word at the Whiteout Party prior to Game 4 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

A helmet-embedded Stanley Cup on the streets during the Whiteout Party prior to Game 4 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

People pack the streets for the Whiteout Party prior to Game 4 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

People pack the streets for the Whiteout Party prior to Game 4 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

People pack the streets for the Whiteout Party prior to Game 4 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

People pack the streets for the Whiteout Party prior to Game 4 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

People pack the streets for the Whiteout Party prior to Game 4 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

People pack the streets for the Whiteout Party prior to Game 4 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

People pack the streets for the Whiteout Party prior to Game 4 of the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series in Winnipeg on Thurs., May 3, 2018. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun/Postmedia Network

Jets vs Predators: The Fans, May 3, 2018

The Jets had their fourth line out for a defensive zone faceoff and were unable to clear the puck in front, which allowed Hartman to pick up a loose puck in front.

With Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien in the box serving a slashing minor, the Predators extended the lead on a goal from P.K. Subban.

Subban unloaded a one-timer from the point and took advantage of screens by Viktor Arvidsson and Craig Smith to score his third goal of this series — which proved to be the game-winner.

Hartman also prevented a goal during the third period, diving to block a glorious chance from the slot by Jets centre Adam Lowry.

For all of the talk about needing to pay attention to the talented blue-liners on the Predators — especially those on the first two pairings — it’s been a relatively quiet series to this point from the group, with one notable exception.

Subban is the only Predators defenceman with a goal in the series and he’s been heavily involved at both ends of the ice, logging big minutes against the Jets most explosive weapons.

Not only did the Predators do a good job of being opportunistic, they also played a smothering style of defence after taking the 2-0 lead.

Instead of sitting back, the Predators did an excellent job of keeping the Jets to the outside.

It took the Jets eight full minutes to record their first shot on goal during the third period and by the time Laine scored in the final minute, it was a matter of too little, too late.

“We just got chasing a game against a team that was desperate and needed a win,” said Wheeler. “They were willing to sit five guys back and we weren’t willing, for the most part, to do the things we needed to do to break that.”

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